Ford tips F1 technology into elegant E-Bike concept

Automotive manufacturers often use the media glare surrounding events like the International Motor Show in Frankfurt to showcase concept vehicles never intended for production. Such models are created to highlight cutting edge design or brand new technology. This year Ford unveiled an urban mobility concept that uniquely marries Formula One sensing technology with a two-wheeled pedelec bike. The E-Bike design also sees the electric assist motor positioned at the front and cabling hidden within the graceful lines of the lightweight trapezoidal frame.

Ford’s concept piece is not the first time we’ve seen Formula One technology transferred to an electric bike, but where M55’s Terminus production e-bikes concentrated on giving its models F1 stopping power, Ford’s Design team led by Martin Smith – in partnership with cyber-Wear – equipped the E-Bike with patented magnetostriction sensor technology.

“Magnetostrictive materials are used to convert magnetic energy into kinetic energy, and vice versa,” says Ford. “In Formula One, these sensors help handle high engine revolutions in combination with intense thermal strains. They need no physical contact with other parts of the engine, are temperature-independent and are completely maintenance-free.”

The sensors used in the E-Bike monitor the revolutions of the inner bearing and send on the information to a control unit within a hundredth of a second. The control unit uses this data to decide in an instant when best to activate or deactivate the electric motor housed in the bike’s front wheel hub to provide power assist to the rider. A handlebar-mounted readout display allows the rider to select from three support modes – Economy, Comfort and Sport – as well as providing trip information.

The onboard 340Wh/36V/9.3Ah lithium-ion battery with integrated controller is said to offer up to 85 km (52.8 miles) range between charges, depending on drive power and support mode selected, and reaches 80 percent capacity after 2 hours connected to the mains and full charge after 3-4 hours. The charging unit is small enough to remain on the bike and is designed to prevent overcharging, undervolting, overheating and shortcircuit.